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By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Coach Doc Rivers is attempting to shift the focus from former Celtic Ray Allen before the the team's season-opener in Miami Tuesday.

"Honestly, it’d be nice to win," Rivers said after practice Friday. "But it wouldn’t feel good because of last year, it would feel good because now we’re 1-0. Honestly, for me, it goes no further than that. We blew them out two or three times (during the 2011-12 regular season) and they beat us (inn the playoffs). None of that really matters when the playoffs start, it just makes you have a better chance of getting home court."

Asked about competing against Allen, who left the Celtics for Heat as a free agent, Rivers said:

"I don’t think it’s Ray, honestly. I think it’s more the Heat. Maybe several guys want to play against Ray and Ray may want to play against several guys but this isn’t a Ray versus Celtics game. If it becomes that we’re going to lose by a lot of points because as good as Ray is, I know of two guys for sure, probably three guys on that team, who are a lot better than Ray. And if we’re focusing in on Ray we’re going to lose by 40."

Rivers, asked if he attempted to contact Allen during the free agency period, replied:

"I tried. I’m not going to get into Ray Allen stuff. Ray was great when he was here. If Ray wants to talk we’re going to just let Ray keep talking, that’s probably better for all of us."